S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  180--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs -- recommitted to the Committee  on  Veterans,
   Homeland  Security and Military Affairs in accordance with Senate Rule
   6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted  as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to directing the veterans
   service commission to submit a report relating to coordinated services
   for  veterans  with  service-connected  disabilities  to the veterans'
   services director
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby recognizes that
 New  York  state's  veterans,  particularly  those  who  suffered   from
 service-connected  disabilities,  have  unique  needs as a result of the
 sacrifices they made during their military service. It  is  also  hereby
 acknowledged  by  the  legislature  that  due to the complexity of their
 needs, such individuals require accessible, coordinated, and specialized
 services within their communities from multiple state  and  local  agen-
 cies.  The  legislature  finds  that there may be a need for a statewide
 comprehensive program to coordinate such services.
   § 2. Section 352 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   6.  THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF DISA-
 BILITY OFFICER BY APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, SHALL SUBMIT  A
 REPORT  TO THE DIRECTOR REVIEWING THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS WITH
 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES BY  STATE  AND  LOCAL  VETERANS'  SERVICE
 AGENCIES.  THE REPORT SHALL IDENTIFY ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE AVAILABILI-
 TY, ACCESSIBILITY AND DELIVERY OF SUCH SERVICES.
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00540-03-2
              
             
                          
                 S. 180--A                           2
 
   (A) THE SERVICES REVIEWED IN THE REPORT  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO:
   (I)  EDUCATION  AND  VOCATION RELATED SERVICES, INCLUDING TRAINING AND
 RETRAINING SERVICES;
   (II) HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL, MENTAL, DENTAL, REHABILI-
 TATION AND COUNSELING SERVICES;
   (III) CAREER, EMPLOYMENT AND RE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES;
   (IV) HOUSING RELATED SERVICES;
   (V) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES;
   (VI) LONG TERM CARE SERVICES;
   (VII) PERSONAL CARE SERVICES;
   (VIII) ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE SERVICES;
   (IX) FAMILY OUTREACH AND FAMILY CAREGIVER SERVICES; AND
   (X) LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING VETERANS'  BENEFITS  CLAIMS  ASSISTANCE.
 THE  REPORT  SHALL  PROVIDE  ANY  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW
 THESE SERVICES MAY BE IMPROVED, OR BETTER COORDINATED AND  HOW  INFORMA-
 TION PERTAINING TO SUCH SERVICES CAN BE BETTER COMMUNICATED TO VETERANS.
 TO  THE  EXTENT  FEASIBLE,  THE  REPORT SHALL ALSO IDENTIFY ANY NEEDS OF
 VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES THAT ARE UNMET BY  EXISTING
 SERVICES AND INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW THEY MAY BE ADDRESSED.
   (B)  THE REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
 NECESSITY AND FEASIBILITY  OF  IMPLEMENTING  A  COMPREHENSIVE  STATEWIDE
 PROGRAM OF COORDINATED SERVICE FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISA-
 BILITIES.  ONCE  COMPLETED,  THE COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH SUCH REPORT ON
 THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE AND PROVIDE FOR A THIRTY-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERI-
 OD PRIOR TO SUCH REPORT BEING DELIVERED TO THE DIRECTOR. A  SYNOPSIS  OF
 THE COMMENTS SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT THAT IS SUBMITTED.
   UPON  THE RECEIPT OF THE REPORT THE STATE DIRECTOR SHALL SUBMIT A COPY
 OF THE REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE  AND
 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.